A Saturday well spent
Attended the "everything but the oink" event at Rock Ledge Historical Ranch yesterday. The weather was supposed to be cold and windy, with a chance of rain, which we got for about 15 minutes. Other than that, very little wind, mostly sunny. The event was poorly attended, as usual. Most people are not into watching a pig being butchered. However, they also had soap making and blacksmithing going on as well. The soap making was scary. They had one adult docent and some children making the soap. None of them had ever done so before. I left before they added the lye to the fat. They just did not have much of a clue and I could see someone getting seriously injured. The one girl wanted to pour the hot off the fire fat to the lye, which you never do unless you want smoke, flames, spattering lye that can shoot for several feet, and a serious mess. Finally convinced them to wait 'til the fat cooled and pour the lye into the fat, constantly stirring. I've only done soap a few times but I know better than to attempt the things they thought they could do. Since I'd done it and they hadn't they were more than willing to wait for someone with experience to handle that part. The younger children left the scene or managed to find things to do well out of the way. Made me feel a bit safer. The butchering was interesting. I didn't stay to see the cutting chops, ribs, etc. Once you've done one critter, they're pretty much all the same. Was interesting watching them do the first part of the cutting though. They use almost the whole hog there at the ranch, all the meat goes towards the special meals they have during the year, the lard is rendered for soap making in the fall, and occasionally in the spring. I don't know what they do with the skin but it's used for something. the bones are boiled down for flavoring soups and stews. They also demonstrated making sausage in one of the homestead houses. The building was beautiful. I'd never been in that one. Someone had rebuilt the out door oven (orno) at the homestead house in late summer as it was not rebuilt when we were there for July 4th. they'd also used it a time or two. Would like to see it in operation some time. They had a barn dance going on as well and there's a young man that wanders around the grounds playing the fiddle, old pioneer songs and reels and the like. He's at most events and really is quite good. the two men that did the butchering run a custom butcher shop and were a wealth of information on usage of the different parts of the pig, where to take your game to get it processed, what all is entailed in doing a critter for yourself, etc. We were able to get the bladder to salt and cure for an oil container for our reenactment group and also put in an order for a few cow bladders for the same thing. We really did pick up some good hints and contacts for further research and supplies. The blacksmithing was quite interesting. The gentleman that does the smithing at the ranch is quite talented, not only repairing the antique tools and shoeing horses, but creating hinges and other items for modern homes. We learned how to use a brass brush to apply a light brass sheen to hot metal, how to wax, and how you can punch holes in iron. He made a fire striker and a bottle opener while we were watching. The bottle opener was really quite beautiful when it was done. Had thought I would take Dianne aka the Stinky Girl with me but since the weather was threatening to be ugly, I decided not to. Should have taken her as, except for the brief rain, the weather was quite nice and she would have found lots of things to see and other kids to play with. That's always a plus for her. She really enjoys seeing the animals there and wandering around looking at things. she also likes the wandering musicians. Ah well, next event she will get to go. They have holiday meals and other stuff planned that I think she will like.
I did get some pictures, taken on the cell phone so not the best. As soon as they're loaded up to my photobucket, I'll post them.
I did get some pictures, taken on the cell phone so not the best. As soon as they're loaded up to my photobucket, I'll post them.